DIY Subwoofer Risers

[Snpbond]

Alright, I'll check out the local hardware stores tomorrow, I had a brief look at Walmart for foam before but I didn't see any (this isn't a super Walmart).

Ill try and upload a pic of the finished product, thanks for the advice!

[PTplayers]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Check Home Depot and Lowes for cheap commercial carpets. I used cheap door mats from Home Depot for one of my risers. You can also find carpet in many car audio shops. Parts Express sells speaker carpeting online. For foam, check most craft and fabric shops, including Wal-Mart. The best place for all types of foam, including acoustic foam, is The Foam Factory.

You can also go to your local car stereo shop that does installations ans most likely will have carpeting.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Snpbond

Alright, I'll check out the local hardware stores tomorrow, I had a brief look at Walmart for foam before but I didn't see any (this isn't a super Walmart).

Ill try and upload a pic of the finished product, thanks for the advice!

The foams in Wal-Mart are in the craft and fabric department. You don't need a super Wal-Mart store. All Wal-Mart stores around my are have them. You can also buy a cheap pillow and use it.

[Sousa86]

i actually thought about using a few pillows guts as the "stuffing" for this entertainment center riser thing i'm putting together. should work just as well i guess lol

[sputter]

I finished my subriser/trap. 15"x16"x9", covered in a bath mat carpet and stuffed with med density foam (bed foam).

After running several test tones 10hz to 80hz I found no difference db wise.
On the box/off the box/rubber blocks under the box/rubber blocks under the sub legs on the box. etc.

The db lvls oddly or not so oddly stayed the same.

What's this telling me? I was expecting a db change, higher or lower but I was surprised at no change.

thoughts?

[5seconds]

I built my riser out of a 1" thick solid wood butcher block (this thing is heavy!), 1/2" smaller than the A2-300 on all sides so that the carpet would not hang out from under the sub (once wrapped, the base would be the same size as the sub)

The block was wrapped with some leftover carpet from when we carpeted the basement, so it matches the floor. I used the foam corners that were used in the shipping of the A2-300 on each corner, and then a 2" gap inside was filled with pink insulating foam. The void inside is covered in 2" pyramid foam, and then the whole base is wrapped in black felt.

The sub's spiked feet are resting on the small metal discs that came with the sub so that the spikes did not pierce the carpet.

I will get some better photos of the underside at some point, but here it is in action. I wish I took some pictures while I was constructing it. I guess that 10 week wait for the A2-300 has some benefits!

[progers13]

Originally Posted by 5seconds

I built my riser out of a 1" thick solid wood butcher block (this thing is heavy!), 1/2" smaller than the A2-300 on all sides so that the carpet would not hang out from under the sub (once wrapped, the base would be the same size as the sub)

The block was wrapped with some leftover carpet from when we carpeted the basement, so it matches the floor. I used the foam corners that were used in the shipping of the A2-300 on each corner, and then a 2" gap inside was filled with pink insulating foam. The void inside is covered in 2" pyramid foam, and then the whole base is wrapped in black felt.

The sub's spiked feet are resting on the small metal discs that came with the sub so that the spikes did not pierce the carpet.

I will get some better photos of the underside at some point, but here it is in action. I wish I took some pictures while I was constructing it. I guess that 10 week wait for the A2-300 has some benefits!

Looks great man! What do you think of the performance?

[5seconds]

To be honest, I'm not sure! I built the riser while I was waiting for the sub, so as soon as the sub came in, I finished the corners and set it up. I never tried the sub without, so I have nothing to compare it to. Either way, it sounds great, and my old Polk has been totally shamed.

[PTplayers]

Originally Posted by progers13

Looks great man! What do you think of the performance?

Looks great , you have double decoupling with the spikes as well.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by 5seconds

I built my riser out of a 1" thick solid wood butcher block (this thing is heavy!), 1/2" smaller than the A2-300 on all sides so that the carpet would not hang out from under the sub (once wrapped, the base would be the same size as the sub)

The block was wrapped with some leftover carpet from when we carpeted the basement, so it matches the floor. I used the foam corners that were used in the shipping of the A2-300 on each corner, and then a 2" gap inside was filled with pink insulating foam. The void inside is covered in 2" pyramid foam, and then the whole base is wrapped in black felt.

The sub's spiked feet are resting on the small metal discs that came with the sub so that the spikes did not pierce the carpet.

I will get some better photos of the underside at some point, but here it is in action. I wish I took some pictures while I was constructing it. I guess that 10 week wait for the A2-300 has some benefits!

That is A nice riser you built 5seconds

[Snpbond]

Finished my riser on the weekend, apologies for the bad picture (cell phone camera is all I have). Covered the whole riser in carpet and filled the bottom with foam from a cushion.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Snpbond

Finished my riser on the weekend, apologies for the bad picture (cell phone camera is all I have). Covered the whole riser in carpet and filled the bottom with foam from a cushion.

Vary nice riser Snpbond ! Looks great .

Now you need to start A gallery for us all to enjoy you setup . From the looks of it you have a nice HT !!

[bz1080p]

Is there an acoustical value to carpeting the risers or is that mainly for looks? The reason I ask is I was thinking of using the same finish on the risers(bare wood) as the subs? The subs have rubber feet.
Thanks

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by bz1080p

Is there an acoustical value to carpeting the risers or is that mainly for looks? The reason I ask is I was thinking of using the same finish on the risers(bare wood) as the subs? The subs have rubber feet.
Thanks

Carpet has 3 benefits:

1. It makes the riser aesthetically more attractive.
2. It makes the subwoofer more stable on top of the riser. Otherwise, the sub may start wobbling on top of a wood riser.
3. Carpet, particularly thick carpet, absorbs higher frequency noises that may come out of the port. Carpet cannot absorb lower frequency bass waves. These waves have wavelengths that may be larger than your entire HT room.

[bz1080p]

Thank you BD!

[kraig1]

Riser extended and new entertainment center in gallery! By the way sub sounds great at this height!

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by kraig1

Riser extended and new entertainment center in gallery! By the way sub sounds great at this height!

Your riser looks very good. Does the dog add anything to the low frequency extension of the sub?

If you don't mind, I will make a simple suggestion. In your gallery, please edit each image and add a line of description. It will be helpful for members to fully understand what you have done to your HT setup. Thank you.

[kraig1]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Your riser looks very good. Does the dog add anything to the low frequency extension of the sub?

If you don't mind, I will make a simple suggestion. In your gallery, please edit each image and add a line of description. It will be helpful for members to fully understand what you have done to your HT setup. Thank you.

I would have to say she's more of a "tweeter", but no benefit to the low end that I can find. Will have to do some cleaning and streamlining soon!

[TKNice]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Carpet has 3 benefits:

1. It makes the riser aesthetically more attractive.
2. It makes the subwoofer more stable on top of the riser. Otherwise, the sub may start wobbling on top of a wood riser.
3. Carpet, particularly thick carpet, absorbs higher frequency noises that may come out of the port. Carpet cannot absorb lower frequency bass waves. These waves have wavelengths that may be larger than your entire HT room.

I was just about to ask this question BD! Mine is enclosed in a stage so the carpet has no aesthetic value. I think with the spikes, I'm not worried about it slipping or moving either. The sound IS important though.

In my setup, do you think carpeting it would make a difference? I was probably just going the simple route of a sheet of MDF with two supporting 2x4s. I probably have room for 2x6s to raise it a little higher and then use some kind of cross brace in the middle.

Any suggestions?

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by TKNice

I was just about to ask this question BD! Mine is enclosed in a stage so the carpet has no aesthetic value. I think with the spikes, I'm not worried about it slipping or moving either. The sound IS important though.

In my setup, do you think carpeting it would make a difference? I was probably just going the simple route of a sheet of MDF with two supporting 2x4s. I probably have room for 2x6s to raise it a little higher and then use some kind of cross brace in the middle.

Any suggestions?

It is up to you. I have wood floor in my house and I generally prefer to put my subs on area rug. I built 5 risers for my subwoofers and they all have carpet on top of them. The cost is so minimal that it makes sense to use it. For one of them, I bought door mats from Home Depot for $3.50 each and used it it. The mats had carpet on top and rubber in the bottom. I used spray glue to attach them.